Chesterfield 2 Rochdale FC 1: Rochdale relegated

Rochdale’s relegation to League Two was confirmed with defeat at Chesterfield.

Rochdale’s relegation to League Two was confirmed with defeat at Chesterfield.

Dale were let off the hook last weekend by a late comeback against Exeter, but there was no reprieve this time around as the hosts overturned a one-goal deficit to leave John Coleman’s men deflated.

The visitors bossed the first half and created the best opening just minutes into the game. Gary Jones, restored to the side as skipper following his much-publicised absence last weekend, was sent through on goal by a neat Joe Thompson pass.

Jones beat defender Simon Ford to go one on one with former Dale loanee Tommy Lee, but clipped a shot wide of the goalkeeper’s upright.

Andrew Tutte’s 25-yarder and a header from Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro kept up the pressure on Lee’s goal as Dale pressed the hosts back inside their own half for long spells of the opening 45 minutes.

After the break, Jones’ deflected shot left Lee wrong-footed but struck the foot of the post but Dale deservedly took the lead when Akpa Akpro curled the ball wide of Lee from the edge of the area.

Lee then pulled off a tremendous save to deny Nicky Adams and the hosts levelled in the 81st minute when Scott Boden converted Gregor Robertson’s cross.

And Chesterfield clinched the win five minutes later when Franck Moussa’s shot struck the crossbar and Danny Whittaker was there to poke the ball home.

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An inability to win away from home and a tendency to crumble under pressure – the problems which have plagued Rochdale’s season ended their slender hopes of escaping relegation with a touch of predictably.

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